Suspect In 1992 N.y. Murder Is Arrested

July 28, 1996|by MIKE FRASSINELLI, The Morning Call

A homicide suspect wanted for a four-year-old New York City murder was arrested at gunpoint Friday in Bethlehem, where police say he assumed an alias and lived a routine life as an insulation factory worker.

With a tip from an informant in Florida, the 35-year-old defendant went from being factory worker Mario Diaz to homicide suspect Alfredo Muesi.

FOR THE RECORD - (Published Monday, July 29, 1996) A story Sunday misidentified the employer of homicide suspect Alfredo Muesi, a Bethlehem factory worker who was arrested in a four-year-old New York City murder. Muesi worked at MFS Inc., according to MFS controller Ralph Klotz.

New York City police last week contacted officers in Bethlehem for help locating Muesi, a suspect in a 1992 murder.. New York City investigators had been told by a Florida informant that Muesi was living in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem police said they had arrested a man they thought to be Mario Diaz on a drunken driving charge last year.

New York City police sent a fax of a photograph of Muesi to their counterparts in Bethlehem.

"It appeared to be similar to Diaz," Detective Richard Laster said in his arrest summary.

Confirming with Muesi's employer that he worked the 3-11 p.m. shift for Waylite Corp. insulation, police waited for Muesi outside the 28 W. Raspberry St. home of Elba Santos, described as his girlfriend.

After following Muesi in unmarked vehicles for less than a mile, police said they used their cars to "box in" the defendant at gunpoint at N. New and E. Church streets about 2:15 p.m. Friday.

Santos and Frances Diaz, who identified herself as Muesi's wife, told officers that the defendant, of 1310 Livingston St., was a suspect in a New York City murder.

After insisting he was Mario Diaz, the defendant, formerly of Queens, N.Y., later admitted to police that he was Alfredo Muesi.

Muesi's employer, Ralph Klotz, declined comment yesterday on how long the employee had worked at Waylite.

Bethlehem police had few details of the murder, but an investigator said he believed it involved "an innocent bystander" who was gunned down during an argument at a bar.

"It was an accident," Muesi, arrested as a fugitive from justice, told District Justice Elizabeth Romig during his arraignment in Bethlehem.

Muesi was sent without bail to Northampton County Prison, where he awaits extradition tomorrow by New York police

A Bethlehem police investigator said he believed Muesi moved to Bethlehem shortly after the 1992 murder.